SHANE Dunne has been appointed as Richmond's new chief executive, and he has huge shoes to fill in the post-Brendon Gale era as the wooden spooners embark on a massive rebuild.
Gale, who has been at the helm of Richmond for the past 15 years, announced earlier this season that he will be leaving to become the inaugural chief executive of the incoming Tasmania Devils.
Dunne is the current chief executive of Richmond's fully-owned subsidiary business Aligned Leisure, which since its inception in 2016 has grown from an organisation of 100 employees to having 1800.
The 42-year-old is also a member of Richmond's executive team, overseeing the club's education arm.
His appointment to take over from Gale comes at a tumultuous time for Richmond both on and off the field.
Three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick departed last year, president Peggy O'Neal left in 2022 and the list of retirements this season includes three-time North Smith medal winner Dustin Martin, former captain Dylan Grimes and two-time flag winner Marlion Pickett.
Richmond finished last this year with a 2-21 record, and key players Liam Baker, Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli have been linked with moves elsewhere.
"The club has entered a transition period, and we need a leader with the dynamism and confidence to harness the talents of our people to both face the immediate challenges, but also capitalise on the opportunities that will present themselves through this next phase," Richmond president John O'Rourke said in a statement.
"Shane is well known to many - he is a highly valued executive and has consistently demonstrated strong, values-driven leadership.
"We identified the importance of strong commercial skill to navigate the immediate financial pressures we face and, importantly, the Punt Road Redevelopment project as a key priority for the club in this next phase."
